According
to a report in the Wall Street Journal,
NSA Director Gen. Keith Alexander offered to resign after Edward
Snowden identified himself as the source of leaked classified documents.

President Obama declined to accept
Alexander's resignation, in part because White House officials didn't
think the resignation would accomplish much other than giving the
appearance that Snowden had "won." Even so, the
resignation offer highlights the effect the leaks have had on the spy
organization.

"It
was cataclysmic," Richard Ledgett, who heads a special NSA
Snowden response team, told the Wall Street Journal.
"This is the hardest problem we've had to face in 62 years of
existence."

The
leaks have reportedly led to some changes at the NSA. Some programs, like the eavesdropping on certain foreign leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, have ended, and White
House-requested recommendations from an internal review team
investigating the NSA could come as soon as this week. And in a major potential shift, when
Alexander steps down this spring, he might be replaced by a civilian,
which would mark the first time non-military personnel has led the
NSA.